Safety railing system for roof access hatch

Abstract

A safety railing system for a roof access hatch includes a three-sided rectangular base configured for resting on a roof adjacent to and surrounding a roof access hatch. Four upright frame members are attached to and extend upwardly from the base to define the four corners of the safety railing system. A plurality of cross-members extend between the upright frame members for rigidly holding the upright frame members relative to one another. An opening or entry is defined between two of the upright frame members at one end of the safety railing system. A gate or removable barrier is provided at the opening or entry to allow selective access through the safety railing system and to the roof access hatch. The safety railing system is secured relative to the roof access hatch to prevent movement of the safety railing system relative to the roof access hatch.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A safety railing for a roof access hatch comprising: 
 a plurality of upright frame members, said plurality of upright frame members defining a perimeter at their lower ends, said perimeter being slightly larger than an outer perimeter of a roof access hatch; and    a plurality of frame cross-members coupled between said plurality of upright frame members to maintain said plurality of upright frame members in a rigid upright position and for providing a barrier between said upright frame members to the roof access hatch, said plurality of upright frame members and said plurality of frame cross-members defining at least one open side to allow access to said roof access hatch through said open side.    
     
     
         2 . The safety railing of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable barrier coupled relative to said upright frame members at said open side for allowing selective access through said open side.  
     
     
         3 . The safety railing of  claim 2 , wherein said removable barrier comprises at least one chain.  
     
     
         4 . The safety railing of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of upright frame members are comprised of tubing and said plurality of frame cross-members comprise a plurality of flat base members and a plurality of tubular barrier members.  
     
     
         5 . The safety railing of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of upright frame members and said plurality of frame cross-members are removably securable relative to one another for ease of construction and disassembly.  
     
     
         6 . The safety railing system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of upright frame members are coupled to a flashing of the roof hatch.  
     
     
         7 . The safety railing system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of upright frame members are configured to sit on the surface of a roof top.  
     
     
         8 . The safety railing system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of cross-members include a plurality of base members configured to sit on the surface of the roof and support the plurality of upright frame members.  
     
     
         9 . The safety railing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gate hingedly attached to one of said plurality of upright frame members at said opening and a latching mechanism associated with said gate and another of said plurality of upright frame members at an opposite side of said opening.  
     
     
         10 . The safety railing of  claim 1 , wherein said upright frame members and said frame cross-members are capable of withstanding a force of at least 200 pounds applied within two inches of the top edge in any outward or downward direction at any point along a top edge of said upright frame members and said frame cross-members.  
     
     
         11 . A safety railing for a roof access hatch comprising: 
 a three-sided rectangular base configured for resting on a roof adjacent a roof access hatch thereof;    a plurality of upright members extending upwardly from said base and defining the corners of a safety railing system; and    a plurality of cross-members extending between the plurality of upright members for rigidly holding said upright frame members relative to one another and defining an entry between two of said upright frame members.    
     
     
         12 . The safety railing system of  claim 11 , further including a gate coupled between said two upright frame members defining the entry.  
     
     
         13 . The safety railing system of  claim 12 , wherein said gate comprises at least one length of chain.  
     
     
         14 . The safety railing system of  claim 11 , further comprising means for affixing the safety railing to the roof access hatch.  
     
     
         15 . The safety railing system of  claim 14 , wherein said affixing means comprises at least one bracket coupled to at least one of the plurality of upright members configured for securing to a flashing of a roof hatch.  
     
     
         16 . The safety railing system of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one fastener for attaching said at least one bracket to the flashing.  
     
     
         17 . The safety railing of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of upright members and plurality of cross-members are capable of withstanding, without failure or movement relative to a roof hatch, a force of at least 200 pounds applied within two inches of the top edge, in any outward or downward direction, at any point along the top edge.  
     
     
         18 . The safety railing of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of upright members are comprised of tubing and said plurality of cross-members comprise a plurality of flat base members and a plurality of tubular barrier members.  
     
     
         19 . The safety railing of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of upright members and said plurality of cross-members are removably securable relative to one another for ease of construction and disassembly.